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Southeast Provider of Solar Instructor Training

Current status

The program has completed it's second contractual phase but no longer has federal funds for additional training. SSTN staff are still available to provide advice to those educational institutions interested in developing their own solar training programs. Staff can also provide advice to individuals interested in solar careers.

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Map of the Southeast Solar Training Network areas on a Unites States mapThe Southeast Solar Training Network is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funded five-year effort that creates a geographic network offering training programs in solar installations across the southeastern region of the U.S. The program is currently in its second phase.

See Success Stories of the program.

Goal

To address critical solar energy industry needs for high-quality, local, and accessible training in solar system design, installation and inspection.

Objectives

  • Accelerate market adoption of solar technologies by ensuring high-quality installations
  • Create sustainable jobs

The training network provides train-the-trainer instruction to educational faculty/instructors in photovoltaics (PV) and solar water heating (SWH) from institutions designated by the Energy Offices in the nine partner states and territories. The trained instructors then conduct training in PV and SWH at their educational institutions.

National Administrator

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is the National Administrator for the Solar Instructor Training Network. IREC works closely with the Regional Training Partners, facilitating and supporting the creation of a well-trained, highly-qualified solar energy workforce of sufficient size and diversity to meet the projected needs of this country.  The IREC Solar Instructor Training Network web site provides a listing of regional training partners, training resources, future events, and highlights the work that has been conducted to date.


SSTN Partners map

Partners

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Kentucky
  • Florida
  • Mississippi
  • Georgia
  • Tennessee
  • Puerto Rico
  • U. S. Virgin Islands


For a listing of the participating educational institutions and a detailed location view of the institutions, click on the above map. Once at the expanded map view, click on the pins to obtain links to the educational institutions. Use your mouse or the map zoom in or out feature to get closer views. In addition you can also see the Partners site.

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) leads this network. The Florida Solar Energy Center, with more than 30 years of training experience in the solar energy arena, collaborates with its training partners to expand the existing model of its long-standing alternative energy training programs. Activities include:

  • Develop and disseminate model curricula
  • Incorporate lessons learned and best practices
  • Increase the capacity of educational providers to train workers in photovoltaics (PV) and solar water heating (SWH)
  • Provide regional forums regarding instructor training.

For more information, please contact:

Colleen Kettles at ckettles@fsec.ucf.edu.